Coach is chock full of definitions. When you drive a stagecoach you are likely to have a coach whip that you flick over the horses backs to urge them on. Since a long black snake looks like a coach whip, it is called a coach whip. Although I have not researched it, I think most of the definitions come from the word used for a carriage.

You might note that I wrote chock full. You definitely will not hear that expression south of the Mason-Dixon line. I used it because I lived in New York City for a while and want to show I can break out of my Red Neck mold on occasion.

Slava: We don't have "Chock full o'nuts" in Red Neck land although it is good coffee. We also have a different definition of regular coffee. I will never forget my surprise at being served coffee with milk in Yankee Land. I had agreed I wanted it regular. Down here regular coffee is black, sugarless and strong, with maybe a little chicory added if you have Louisiana roots.

Au contraire, cafe au lait is de rigeur at the famous NOLA Cafe du Monde. However, to me, hot milk or cream ruins good coffee. Most places need to double their coffee strength. I'm surprised so many drink Starbucks, 'cause they get it right. Of course, perhaps the majority of their customers pay obscene prices for all sorts of adulterated drinks.

Adulterated drinks remind me of the man who drew an illustration for each of the ten commandments to go in a children's book. To illustrate "Do not commit adultery" he showed someone putting cream in his coffee.